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My (Hopefully) Wonderful Quiz on "Wonderful Town"

"Wonderful Town" was a big hit when first presented on Broadway in 1953 and a big hit all over again when revived fifty years later. Try this quiz and hopefully you will learn more about this interesting musical.

A multiple-choice quiz by Lost_Player_47. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
Lost_Player_47

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
267,865

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
169

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. "Wonderful Town" was based on which play? Hint

Having Wonderful Time

My Sister Eileen

Anna Christie

Fanny

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Question 2 of 10

2. Rosalind Russell, the star of "Wonderful Town", had already played the lead character of Ruth Sherwood before. Which production was that? Hint

The first time she played the character was in "Wonderful Town"

The Broadway production of "My Sister Eileen"

The film "My Sister Eileen"

The TV series "My Sister Eileen"

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. Now for a question about the 2003 Broadway revival. Who played Ruth in this production? Hint

Donna Murphy

Bernadette Peters

Donna McKechnie

Kristin Chenoworth

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. In the show, what magazine did Bob Baker work for? (He was an editor.) Hint

Esquire

Time

The New Yorker

The Manhatter

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Question 5 of 10

5. Also from the show itself, Ruth tried to interview naval cadets from which country? Hint

Brazil

Columbia

Peru

United Kingdom

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Question 6 of 10

6. Why were Leonard Bernstein, Betty Comden and Adolph Green rushed to write the score to "Wonderful Town" only five weeks before it opened? Hint

The original songwriters quit because they weren't getting along with the rest of the artistic staff

They couldn't agree on financial terms with the show's producers until then

They were tied up with another project

They liked working under pressure

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Question 7 of 10

7. "One Hundred Easy Ways" has a rather unique construction for a song in a Broadway show--at the end of each verse, Ruth stops and delivers a spoken gag. Why was the song written that way? Hint

It was written in a hurry

It was originally written for "On The Town"

Many songs from Broadway shows were written that way in the 1950s

To suit the somewhat limited vocal talents of Rosalind Russell

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. When Rosalind Russell left the original cast of "Wonderful Town", what blonde actress (wearing a brunette wig) replaced her? Hint

Dolores Gray

Marilyn Monroe

Carol Channing

Betty Grable

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Question 9 of 10

9. When "Wonderful Town" was made into a motion picture, who played Ruth? Hint

Rosalind Russell

Betty Garrett

Judy Holliday

The show was never made into a motion picture

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Question 10 of 10

10. Who choreographed "Wonderful Town" (and received a Tony Award)? Hint

Bob Fosse

Donald Saddler

Michael Kidd

Robert Alton

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. "Wonderful Town" was based on which play?

Answer: My Sister Eileen

"Having Wonderful Time", "Anna Christie" and "Fanny" were all sources for other hit musicals of the 1950s -- "Wish You Were Here", "New Girl in Town" and "Fanny", respectively.

"My Sister Eileen" was a big hit on Broadway -- it opened in 1940 and ran for just over two years.

2. Rosalind Russell, the star of "Wonderful Town", had already played the lead character of Ruth Sherwood before. Which production was that?

Answer: The film "My Sister Eileen"

Miss Russell played the role of Ruth Sherwood first in the film version of "My Sister Eileen." It was this portrayal that made her the odds-on favorite to portray the role in the musical version, "Wonderful Town."

Shirley Booth played Ruth Sherwood in the original Broadway production of "My Sister Eileen." Elaine Stritch played Ruth Sherwood in the TV Series, "My Sister Eileen" in the 1960s.

3. Now for a question about the 2003 Broadway revival. Who played Ruth in this production?

Answer: Donna Murphy

"Wonderful Town" was revived on Broadway for the first time in 2003 since its original Broadway production in 1953.

4. In the show, what magazine did Bob Baker work for? (He was an editor.)

Answer: The Manhatter

Ruth applies for a writing job at the Manhatter, where Bob tries to discourage her ambitions to be a writer by singing "What A Waste."

5. Also from the show itself, Ruth tried to interview naval cadets from which country?

Answer: Brazil

Ruth tries to interview Brazilian naval cadets. They are willing to speak to her only if she teaches them the conga. This leads to the brilliant dance number, "Conga!"

6. Why were Leonard Bernstein, Betty Comden and Adolph Green rushed to write the score to "Wonderful Town" only five weeks before it opened?

Answer: The original songwriters quit because they weren't getting along with the rest of the artistic staff

Leroy Anderson and Arnold Horwitt, the original songwriters for "Wonderful Town", left the show because they weren't getting along with Joseph Fields and Jerome Chodorov, who wrote the play "My Sister Eileen" and the book for "Wonderful Town."

The musical had to go into rehearsal by December 15, 1952, or the option with Rosalind Russell would expire. George Abbott, the director, asked Leonard Bernstein to write one or two numbers; Bernstein offered to write a complete new score. Betty Comden and Adolph Green agreed to write the lyrics if Bernstein worked on the score.

7. "One Hundred Easy Ways" has a rather unique construction for a song in a Broadway show--at the end of each verse, Ruth stops and delivers a spoken gag. Why was the song written that way?

Answer: To suit the somewhat limited vocal talents of Rosalind Russell

"One Hundred Easy Ways" was written by Bernstein, Comden and Green for Rosalind Russell after she informed them, "I have a five-note vocal range."

8. When Rosalind Russell left the original cast of "Wonderful Town", what blonde actress (wearing a brunette wig) replaced her?

Answer: Carol Channing

When Rosalind Russell left the original Broadway company of "Wonderful Town", Carol Channing (wearing a brunette wig) replaced her. Miss Channing received credible reviews but "Wonderful Town" was not the same smash hit it had been when it starred Rosalind Russell.

9. When "Wonderful Town" was made into a motion picture, who played Ruth?

Answer: The show was never made into a motion picture

Unfortunately, there was no motion picture version of "Wonderful Town." Columbia Pictures had wanted to film the musical but thought the asking price was too high. Instead, they produced their own musical version of "My Sister Eileen" (with new songs) starring Betty Garrett as Ruth.

In 1958, CBS pesented "Wonderful Town" as a TV Special, with Rosalind Russell once again playing Ruth.

Judy Holliday was scheduled to play the lead in the Columbia Pictures version until the project was canceled.

10. Who choreographed "Wonderful Town" (and received a Tony Award)?

Answer: Donald Saddler

Donald Saddler choreographed "Wonderful Town." His dances, especially for such numbers as "Conga!" and "Swing!" were highly praised. However, it is believed that well-known choreographer Jerome Robbins gave an (uncredited) assist with the dances. Bob Fosse played the part of Frank Lippincott in the film "My Sister Eileen" which starred Betty Garrett.

Source: Author Lost_Player_47

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor CellarDoor before going online.
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